Chapter 2

Liam just stared at me, his mouth hanging slightly open. The shock on his face was almost comical. He had lost control, and the entire senior class was watching it happen.

For a moment, I didn't feel anger or humiliation. I just felt... light. The heavy weight that had pressed down on me for seven years was gone, and in its place was a clear, sharp calm. His threats were just noise now, the meaningless posturing of a boy who had just lost his favorite toy.

"You're making a scene, Ava," Liam finally managed to say, trying to sound intimidating. He lowered his voice, but it trembled with rage. "You'll regret this."

I just looked at him, my expression blank. I didn't need to say anything. My silence was a better answer than any argument. It told him he had no more power over me.

He tried to laugh it off, turning to the crowd. "She' s just emotional. You know how girls get."

But no one was laughing with him now. They were watching us, an unfolding drama more interesting than any cheap champagne. His attempt to look cool and in charge was failing miserably.

Skye, however, was not one to be upstaged. She slid up to Liam, her eyes glittering with malice. She whispered something in his ear, just loud enough for those nearby to hear.

"She thinks she' s too good for us now, Liam," Skye said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "Too good for community college. Too good for your friends. She probably thinks this whole party is beneath her, even though it' s celebrating your success."

She then turned her gaze towards me, a sly smile on her face.

"Her parents are out of the country, right? Their mansion must be so empty and quiet. Why don't we take the party there? Let's see how Miss High-and-Mighty likes it when a few 'regular people' liven up her precious house."

A low murmur of excitement went through Liam' s group of friends. The idea was rebellious and exciting.

Liam' s ego, already bruised from my defiance, seized on the idea. It was the perfect way to reassert his dominance, to put me back in my place. A wide, cruel grin spread across his face.

"That's a brilliant idea, Skye," he boomed, turning to his friends. "Everyone, forget this dump! We're moving the party to the Clark estate! Drinks are on the house!"

A roar of approval went up from his followers. They started grabbing their things, excited by the prospect of invading the massive, gated home they had only ever seen from the outside.

They started moving toward the exit like a herd of animals. I ran to the door, trying to block their path.

"No," I said, my voice firm. "You are not going to my house."

Liam came right up to me, his face inches from mine. "Get out of my way, Ava."

"It's not your house, Liam. You can't just invite people over."

He scoffed, then he did something he'd never done before. He shoved me, hard. I stumbled backward, hitting the wall. The physical shock was sharp and startling.

"I've lived in that house for ten years," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "My name might not be on the deed, but it's my home as much as it is yours. My things are there. My room is there. Now move."

He pushed past me, and his friends followed, laughing and high-fiving as they streamed out into the night, a wave of destruction heading straight for my home.